8862996

Method and apparatus for container mapping presentation of distributed systems

PublishedOctober 14, 2014
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
17 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A method for presenting information associated with selected elements in a distributed system, the method comprising the steps of: grouping the elements into one or more autonomous systems; representing attributes of, and relationships between the elements in the one or more autonomous systems as associated configuration non-specific entities; presenting one or more container mapping views; wherein each container mapping view represents one of the one or more autonomous systems and the relationship between the one or more autonomous systems; enabling a selection of one or more layers of an OSI protocol stack; applying a criterion, for each layer selected of the OSI protocol stack, to the one or more container mapping views; extracting at least one characteristics from a characteristic set including attributes of the elements and the relationships between the elements within the one or more autonomous systems associated with the selected criterion, for each selected layer of the OSI protocol stack, and the one or more selected layers of the OSI protocol stack; associating an indicator with each of the one or more container mapping views for indicating additional information associated with the one or more container mapping views; associating the at least one characteristic with regard to a configuration of the distributed system; and graphically presenting the indicator for the one or more container mapping views and relationships between the one or more mapping containers; wherein each indicator for the one or container mapping views enables a user to expand a container mapping view of the at least one container mapping views based on the selection of the at least one layer of the OSI protocol stack; where expanding the container mapping view presents the information associated with the extracted attributes and the relationships between the represented elements of the autonomous system associated with the container mapping view for each selected layer of the OSI protocol stack.

Plain English Translation

A method presents information about elements in a distributed system. The method groups elements into autonomous systems and represents their attributes and relationships as configuration-agnostic entities. It displays one or more container mapping views, each showing an autonomous system and its relationship to other systems. A user can select one or more layers of the OSI model. A criterion is applied to the container mapping views for each selected OSI layer. The system extracts characteristics (attributes and relationships) associated with the selected criteria for each selected OSI layer. Each container mapping view has an indicator showing additional information, reflecting system configuration. Graphically presenting the indicators allows a user to expand a container mapping view based on a selected OSI layer. Expanding the view displays the extracted attributes and relationships for the represented elements of the autonomous system for each selected OSI layer.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the selection criterion is further based on a selection from a group consisting of an MPLS network and an MPLS-VPN network.

Plain English Translation

The method for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, as described previously, where elements are grouped into autonomous systems and represented in container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, further specifies that the selection criterion applied to the views can be based on whether an autonomous system is part of an MPLS network or an MPLS-VPN network. This allows focusing the presented information on network-specific aspects relevant to MPLS or MPLS-VPN configurations within the distributed system, showing attributes and relationships related to these network technologies.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. An apparatus for presenting information associated with selected elements in a distributed system, the apparatus comprising: a processor in communication with a memory, the processing executing code for: grouping the elements into one or more autonomous systems; representing attributes of, and relationships between the elements in the one or more autonomous systems as associated configuration non-specific entities; presenting one or more container mapping views; wherein each container mapping view represents one of the one or more autonomous systems and the relationship between the one or more autonomous systems; enabling a selection of one or more layers of an OSI protocol stack; applying a criterion, for each layer selected of the OSI protocol stack, to the one or more container mapping views; extracting at least one characteristics from a characteristic set including attributes of the elements and the relationships between the elements within the one or more autonomous systems associated with the selected criterion, for each selected layer of the OSI protocol stack, and the one or more selected layers of the OSI protocol stack; associating an indicator with each of the one or more container mapping views for indicating additional information associated with the one or more container mapping views; associating the at least one characteristic with regard to a configuration of the distributed system; and graphically presenting the indicator for the one or more container mapping views and relationships between the one or more mapping containers; wherein each indicator for the one or container mapping views enables a user to expand a container mapping view of the at least one container mapping views based on the selection of the at least one layer of the OSI protocol stack; where expanding the container mapping view presents the information associated with the extracted attributes and the relationships between the represented elements of the autonomous system associated with the container mapping view for each selected layer of the OSI protocol stack.

Plain English Translation

An apparatus presents information about elements in a distributed system. It has a processor and memory, and the processor executes code to group elements into autonomous systems and represent their attributes and relationships as configuration-agnostic entities. It displays one or more container mapping views, each showing an autonomous system and its relationship to other systems. A user can select one or more layers of the OSI model. A criterion is applied to the container mapping views for each selected OSI layer. The system extracts characteristics (attributes and relationships) associated with the selected criteria for each selected OSI layer. Each container mapping view has an indicator showing additional information, reflecting system configuration. Graphically presenting the indicators allows a user to expand a container mapping view based on a selected OSI layer. Expanding the view displays the extracted attributes and relationships for the represented elements of the autonomous system for each selected OSI layer.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , the processor further executing code for: presenting information associated with the status of each presented group.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously with the processor executing code to group elements into autonomous systems and display container mapping views, additionally includes code that presents information about the status of each presented group (autonomous system). This allows the user to quickly assess the health and operational state of each autonomous system represented in the container mapping views, alongside the other attributes and relationships extracted and displayed based on the selected OSI layers and criteria.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. A computer-program product for presenting information associated with selected elements in a distributed system, the computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer executable program code, the code configured to enable one or more processors to execute: grouping the elements into one or more autonomous systems; representing attributes of, and relationships the elements in the one or more autonomous systems as associated configuration non-specific entities; presenting one or more container mapping views; wherein each container mapping view represents one of the one or more autonomous systems and the relationship between the one or more autonomous systems; enabling a selection of one or more layers of an OSI protocol stack; applying a criterion, for each layer selected of the OSI protocol stack, to the one or more container mapping views; extracting at least one characteristics from a characteristic set including of the elements and the relationships between the elements within the one or more autonomous systems associated with the selected criterion, for each selected layer of the OSI protocol stack, and the one or more selected layers of the OSI protocol stack; associating an indicator with each of the one or more container mapping for indicating additional information associated with the one or more container mapping views; associating the at least one characteristic with regard to a configuration of the distributed system; and graphically presenting the indicator for the one or more container mapping views and relationships between the one or more mapping containers; wherein each indicator for the one or container mapping views enables a user to expand a container mapping view of the at least one container mapping views based on the selection of the at least one layer of the OSI protocol stack; where expanding the container mapping view presents the information associated with the extracted attributes and the relationships between the represented elements of the autonomous system associated with the container mapping view for each selected layer of the OSI protocol stack.

Plain English Translation

A computer program product presents information about elements in a distributed system. It has a non-transitory computer-readable medium with code that, when executed, groups elements into autonomous systems and represents their attributes and relationships as configuration-agnostic entities. It displays one or more container mapping views, each showing an autonomous system and its relationship to other systems. A user can select one or more layers of the OSI model. A criterion is applied to the container mapping views for each selected OSI layer. The system extracts characteristics (attributes and relationships) associated with the selected criteria for each selected OSI layer. Each container mapping view has an indicator showing additional information, reflecting system configuration. Graphically presenting the indicators allows a user to expand a container mapping view based on a selected OSI layer. Expanding the view displays the extracted attributes and relationships for the represented elements of the autonomous system for each selected OSI layer.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The computer-program product as recited in claim 5 , wherein the instruction further causing the processing system to execute the steps of: presenting information associated with the status of each presented group.

Plain English Translation

The computer program product for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously as grouping elements and displaying container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, further includes instructions that cause the processing system to execute the step of presenting information associated with the status of each presented group (autonomous system). This adds functionality to display the operational state of each autonomous system directly within the container mapping view, complementing the extracted attributes and relationships.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the selection criterion is based on at least one attribute of a selected one of the elements.

Plain English Translation

The method for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, as described previously, where elements are grouped into autonomous systems and represented in container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, further specifies that the selection criterion applied to the views is based on at least one attribute of a selected element. For instance, showing all systems that share a specific IP address, or all servers running a particular software version.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one group is select from the group of: physical and logical elements.

Plain English Translation

The method for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, as described previously, where elements are grouped into autonomous systems and represented in container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, further specifies that the autonomous systems/groups can be selected from physical elements (e.g. servers, routers) or logical elements (e.g. virtual machines, software processes).

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein the selection criterion is based on at least one attribute of a selected one of the elements.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously with a processor executing code to group elements into autonomous systems and display container mapping views, specifies that the selection criterion applied to the views is based on at least one attribute of a selected element.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein the at least one group is select from the group of: physical and logical elements.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously with a processor executing code to group elements into autonomous systems and display container mapping views, specifies that the autonomous systems/groups can be selected from physical elements (e.g. servers, routers) or logical elements (e.g. virtual machines, software processes).

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The computer-program product as recited in claim 5 , wherein the selection criterion is based on at least one attribute of a selected one of the elements.

Plain English Translation

The computer program product for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously as grouping elements and displaying container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, specifies that the selection criterion applied to the views is based on at least one attribute of a selected element.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The computer-program product as recited in claim 5 , wherein the at least one group is select from the group of: physical and logical elements.

Plain English Translation

The computer program product for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously as grouping elements and displaying container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, specifies that the autonomous systems/groups can be selected from physical elements (e.g. servers, routers) or logical elements (e.g. virtual machines, software processes).

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein the selection criterion is further based on a selection from a group consisting of an MPLS network and an MPLS-VPN network.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously with the processor executing code to group elements into autonomous systems and display container mapping views, further specifies that the selection criterion can be based on whether an autonomous system is part of an MPLS network or an MPLS-VPN network.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 5 , wherein the selection criterion is further based on a selection from a group consisting of an MPLS network and an MPLS-VPN network.

Plain English Translation

The computer program product for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, described previously as grouping elements and displaying container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, further specifies that the selection criterion can be based on whether an autonomous system is part of an MPLS network or an MPLS-VPN network.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The method of claim 1 ; where a user selects the criterion.

Plain English Translation

The method for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, where elements are grouped into autonomous systems and represented in container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, includes a user selecting the criterion used to filter which information is shown.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The apparatus of claim 3 ; where a user selects the criterion.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, with a processor executing code to group elements into autonomous systems and display container mapping views, includes a user selecting the criterion used to filter which information is shown.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The program product of claim 5 ; where a user selects the criterion.

Plain English Translation

The program product for presenting information about elements in a distributed system, that groups elements into autonomous systems and displays container mapping views based on selected OSI layers, allows a user to select the criterion used to filter which information is shown.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

October 14, 2014

Inventors

Sudhir Vijendra
Jonathan Reeve
Vadym Nazarchuk

Want to explore more patents?

Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.

Citation & reuse

Analysis on this page is generated by Patentable — an AI-powered patent intelligence platform. AI-generated summaries, explanations, FAQs, and analysis may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL below. Patent abstracts and claims are USPTO public domain.

Cite as: Patentable. “Method and apparatus for container mapping presentation of distributed systems” (8862996). https://patentable.app/patents/8862996

© 2026 Nomic Interactive Technology LLC. Machine-readable context available at /api/llm-context/8862996. See llms.txt for full attribution policy.